Moisture-proofing device for electrical apparatus



M. MORSE May 24, 1960 MOISTURE-PROOFING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Original Filed May 11. 1953 4 a a W Z w 2 m 2 w z 2 I z 0 WM United States Patent 0 MOISTURE-PROOFING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Milton Morse, 252 Hawthorne Ave., Yonkers 5, N.Y.

Original application May 11, 1953, Ser. No. 354,052, now Patent No. 2,795,144, dated June 11, 1957. Divided and this application Apr. 1, 1957, Ser. No. 651,486

1 Claim. (Cl. 174-151) This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 354,052, filed May 11, 1953, and now U.S. Patent No. 2,795,144.

This invention relates generally to moisture-proofing devices, and more particularly to a resilient moistureproof structure adapted to prevent the entry of fluids such as air, and water vapor into electrical devices.

In various communications equipment, there is usually a large number of electrical conductors which are mounted through a solid panel encasing the equipment. This equipment is vulnerable to the effects of air, moisture and/or liquids, and where the equipment is mounted on aircraft, vehicles, or vessels, into which water or gas may penetrate, the equipment would be rendered useless due to such penetration.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide hermetic sealing devices for conductors which extend through a wall in a casing which will protect the encased equipment by preventing fluids from entering the casing surrounding the equipment at the area of connectio'n between the device and the casing.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of water-proofing structure which may be expediently installed and removed as a single unit, and without the use of special tools or skill.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the same may be installed upon and removed from about a mounted conductor by using only the fingers of the hand, or if a particularly tight fit is required, by means of an ordinary socket wrench.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the metal and resilient parts comprising the device are formed by molding the latter about the former, thereby forming a unit which is not easily damaged er torn apart.

The invention also is useful in maintaining a substan tially vapor-proof seal about switches associated with 2,938,070 Patented May 24, 1960 specification, the single figure is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with the invention, the device comprises broadly: a nut element 212, and a boot element 214.

The nut element 212 is preferably formed from machined brass or other suitable metal. It is of irregular configuration, being bounded by a serrated peripheral edge 216, a top surface 220, and a lower surface 222. A threaded centrally disposed bore 226 extends from the lower surface 222 to the top surface 220 and is of a pitch and thread size corresponding to that of a threaded bushing (not shown) with which the device is engageable.

The boot element 214 includes a nut enclosing member 230 upon which there is integrally formed a resiliently deformable member 262.

The nut enclosing member 230 is molded directly upon the nut element 212, and includes a top portion 234, and an inwardly directed annular flange 266a which slideably engages the exterior surface of a conducto'r 201.

Extending upwardly from the flange 266a is an elongated top portion 250, the uppermost part of which is open. The flange 266a: is shown in dot-dash line in its uncompressed position. Operation of the device may be facilitated by the addition of a suitable lubricant (not shown) on the conductor 201, and which will have a nondeteriorating elfect on the material of which the boot element 214 is composed.

Thus the top portion 250 forms an open bore having a first outer end and a second inner end communicating with the threaded bore 226, and the flange 266a forms a seal preventing the entry of moisture through the top portion 250 once a conductor has been engaged therein.

Where desired, the electrical conductor 201 may be substituted by a switch-operating shaft of the type employing short-stroke reciprocato'ry movement (not shown).

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the exact details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

A moisture proofing and sealing device for use with a wirelike conductor, and a barrier having an opening therein, said moisture proofing and sealing device comprising: a nut element and a bo'ot element, said nut element having a threaded bore therein, said boot element having a hollow recess therein at least partially enclosing said nut element, and overlying a portion of said threaded bore; said boot element having means forming an open bore, having a principal axis of substantially constant diameter, said bore having a first outer end and a second inner end communicating'with said threaded bore, said means constricting itself about said wirelike conductor, said bore having a radially expandable annular flange at said second inner end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,383,018 Shere Aug. 21, '1945 2,462,023 Johanson et al. Feb. 15, 1949 2,690,470 Moorhead Sept. 28, 1954 

